It can get (and is) pretty crazy out there. There are seemingly thousands of FrontPage Web sites, hundreds of FrontPage books, dozens of FrontPage training options and all seem to say something different and approach things in their own unique way - and you just want to make a Web site.
I've been using FrontPage since it came out. I know the program like the back of my hand. It has helped me accomplish great things and I know it can do the same for you. This is why we built FrontPage World.
There are just a few simple things that you need to remember and think of when you are dealing with FrontPage. If you keep focused on those, you'll do well.
Ten steps to FrontPage Nirvana (in this order for a reason) - everything else is fluff!
Work with the latest version of FrontPage - whatever version that may be. Microsoft has dumped millions (if not more) into the program and not taking advantage of their work just doesn't make sense. The power is yours to take and well worth the cheap upgrade path. In addition, you should also stay away from FrontPage Express: It was a good idea at one point but it's time has passed.
Make use of FrontPage Extensions - they are the server-side magic that make the product worth it. The editing capabilities of FrontPage represent only a tiny part of the product's power. It is the Web server that interacts with FrontPage that separates the product from everything else out there. If you don't understand what the extensions do and how they help the Web development process, you don't understand FrontPage. If your Web server doesn't support FrontPage Extensions, you are throwing power and money away.
Use includes - you don't have to design your Web site one page at a time. That just doesn't make sense. Use includes to make your life easier. The top, side and bottom of every page that this Web site use includes. Shared Borders are Microsoft's attempt at making includes a little easier. Use includes for the content that you are going to use throughout your site.
Join a least one FrontPage online community. I'm kind of a big fan of this one but there are some great other ones out there as well. You should have a forum that you visit regularly or a newsgroup that you monitor to keep up with the latest and greatest. There are some six million people using this product that you have something to learn from. Many of them have taught me great things and can do the same for you.
Understand the tools that compliment FrontPage - There are a series of tools that greatly compliment FrontPage. Some come from Microsoft, some are available for free elsewhere on the Internet and some cost money. Using FrontPage without these tools is possible, but not advisable. I've seen people spend days trying to make FrontPage do something that can be accomplished with a $10 piece of software. Don't do that to yourself.
Get past Microsoft's marketing machine - Microsoft is Microsoft and, well, God Bless 'em. On the other hand, their marketing machine is their marketing machine and they sometimes push elements of FrontPage that look great in press releases but really don't matter much in the real world. Just because Microsoft.Com pushes a certain aspect of FrontPage, you don't necessarily have to use it to get the most from the product. Be weary of Themes, Shared Borders, the Banner Add Manager, and the non-SharePoint version of the Discussion Wizard.
Always get a second opinion on your work. This one and #8 go well together. No matter how great your site is, make sure to take comments from peers and users about how you can make it better. By the way, my email address is paul@frontpageworld.com and I'd love your comments.
Let the experts do what the experts do well. There are artists, database experts, programmers, coders, marketers, leaders, etc. and you aren't all of them. There will be times when you might want to let someone else take over a certain aspect of what you are doing with your site. If you don't have that artistic flair, consider bringing an artist in to help. No database skills at all, consider a pro to help make things happen. Let the experts do what the experts do well.
Know where FrontPage stops. Despite what we may feel about the program here, yes, that's right, FrontPage doesn't do everything. Anyone who tries to make FrontPage do everything is going to spend a lot of time trying to make FrontPage do something that it just doesn't do or doesn't do well. There are times when you'll need to minimize FrontPage and utilize another program on your desktop. It's ok.
Know the other tools and what they mean to FrontPage. This is the obvious follow-up to #9. There are other products out there that can and will help you in the Web design (and maintenance) process. They include, but are not limited to search engine submission tools, email engines, e-commerce back-ends, marketing books, credit card gateways, fulfillment companies and affiliate brokers. It is as important to know these tools as it is to know FrontPage.
